Stories from Wednesday, May 28, 2003

LEXINGTON -- The McCook Rebels 14 and under fastpitch softball team captured first place in the Lexington Memorial Day Fastpitch Softball Tournament Sunday and Monday. The Rebels posted a 5-0 record. The Rebels defeated Holdrege 7-5, Kearney DMilaco 6-2, Lexington Storm 5-1, Holdrege Heat 11-1 (semifinals) and Lexington Storm 6-2 (championship game)...

Hey, all you tellers of tall tales. Take a bow. You and your tale-telling friends and neighbors have put the Golden Plains of America on the map. How so? By hosting the award-winning Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival, and, by so doing, having the host town, McCook, become known as the "Storytelling Capital of Nebraska."...

What to do about the water. For 15 years, the city of McCook has been dealing with the question of nitrates, quantity, and now arsenic, uranium and other impurities. Last week, the Gazette put the question to its readers. Should we: - Look for water to the north?...

It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Trips like this usually were. Though it meant a 101/2-hour drive of more than 500 miles, Danny came home from work on a Friday night with the offer to head for Worland, Wyo., to visit our friends, Kari, Wade and their children, Brian and Christina...

Moving from the upper floor to the lower level at the Ed Thomas YMCA will become easier this fall, thanks to a new elevator. By September, an elevator will be installed in the center of the McCook YMCA building. The addition of an elevator will help a variety of YMCA patrons, as well as improve safety and security, according to Executive Director Mike Gonzales. "It will be a big benefit," he said...

MANKATO, Kan. -- Jewell County Sheriff Kim Ost suspects no foul play in the drowning death of a former McCook man at Lovewell State Park on Memorial Day. Ost said, however, he has requested an autopsy on the body of Glen Alan Lytle, 40, of Edgar. Ost said he received reports that Lytle was missing from his camp site in the Montana Creek area about 10:30 a.m., Monday. ...

The seventh annual Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival is Friday and Saturday and includes a lineup of some of the country's best storytellers. "One of the highlights of this year's show will be the political stories," said Cloyd Clark, co-director of the festival...

IMPERIAL -- The Republican Valley Renaissance Project, in conjunction with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Foundation, is presenting an organ recital by Ms. Masako Nakamura on Sunday, 4 p.m., MDT at Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial. The recital, originally scheduled in April, was postponed due to a snow storm...

"The Diary of Anne Frank" will be Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre's Fall production during the week of October 9. Show producer Howard Kool announced this week that SWNCTA Board has made arrangements to bring the show to McCook Main Street at the Fox Theatre...

Gazette photos/Michelle Walkenshaw-Herrera Helen Allen of McCook has five paintings on display at Lincoln Federal Savings Bank, 211 Norris Avenue. The painting above shows the Frank Lloyd Wright house on Norris and F in McCook and the second shows a small house trimmed in blue with a lush green lawn. The paintings are on display until June. Lincoln Federal Savings is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m...

Sen. Ben Nelson will be at the McCook Chamber of Commerce on Thursday to meet with regional airport, hospital and business officials. Nelson will speak about rural revitalization at the McCook chamber, 107 Norris Ave., at noon on Thursday. A media availability is set for 1:30 p.m. at the chamber...

NORTH PLATTE -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development agency awarded a $44,000 grant to to Wauneta Senior Services Center Inc. for expansion of the Wauneta Senior Center that serves 625 patrons from Wauneta and surrounding communities...

Fifty American flags are in place for Memorial Day and other holidays, thanks to the efforts of an ad hoc downtown committee. After long-time flag-raiser Frannie Weiland retired, and an old set of flags fell into disrepair, the flags were absent for several years. The committee received donations from some 35 businesses and individuals to pay for the 50 new flags. Donations may be sent to Ivan Schmid, 1514 W. First, treasurer of the group...

With the threat of storms and a desire to be finished earlier than the previous two weeks, the six classes at McCook Speedway completed the show in an even three hours on Friday. David Murray Jr. of Oberlin, Randy Clydesdale of Edmond, Kan., Bob DeRouchey of Ft. Collins, Colo., Jason Stephens and Randon Peters of McCook, and Dave Wimer of Trenton completed the six A Features with the wins...

LEXINGTON -- The McCook Rebels 16 and under girls fastpuitch softball team placed third at the Lexington Memorial Day Fastpitch Softball Tournament Sunday and Monday. "The girls had a good weekend for the first weekend of tournaments," said coach Eearl Roberts. "The only two losses came from a very good 18 and under Cozad Classic team."...

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. -- The Atwood High School boys golf team captured the Kansas Class 2-1A state golf championship Tuesday. The tournament took place at Rolling Meadows Golf Club in Junction City, Kan. Atwood won with a 347 score, edging out runnerup Hoxie by four strokes...

HUMBOLDT, Kan. -- Lyle E. Dunham, 62, died Thursday (May 22, 2003) at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan. He was born April 11, 1941, to Clyde Dunham and Mabel (Wickizer) Dunham. He worked for many years as a truck driver for firms in Nebraska, Missouri, Texas and Kansas. He most recently owned the L&T Bait and Tackle in Humboldt, Kan. Until his health started failing, he had been restoring the Odd Fellows Club building for the Historical Society in Humboldt...